NGV announce 8th Annual Dinner

The North Georgia Veterans (NGVs) will host their 8th Annual Dinner, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. in the Mountains Grille at The Clubhouse on Lake Sconti. The guest speaker will be Brigadier General Diana M. Holland.

Holland graduated from the United States Military Academy and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers in 1990. Her military service began in Germany where she served as a vertical construction platoon leader in the 79th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), and as a company executive officer and battalion assistant operations officer in the 94th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy).

Upon returning to the United States, Holland was assigned to the 30th Engineer Battalion (Topographic), 20th Engineer Brigade, at Fort Bragg, N. C. and served as the battalion logistics officer and then as the commander of headquarters and headquarters company. Following company command, Holland earned a Master of Arts degree at Duke University in route to a teaching assignment at the United States Military Academy. She then attended the Army Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) where she earned a Master of Military Arts and Sciences degree.

She was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division in July 2004, and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom 3 serving as a division plans officer and then as the operations officer in the 92nd Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy).

Upon return from Iraq, Holland served as a plans officer in the Operations Directorate, United States Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. She commanded the 92nd Engineer Battalion (Black Diamonds) from July 2008 to June 2011, deploying with Task Force Diamond to eastern Afghanistan from May 2010 to April 2011.

After relinquishing command, Holland was a United States Army War College Fellow at Georgetown University. In 2012, she assumed command of the 130th Engineer Brigade at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. The following year, she deployed with the Brigade Headquarters to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan where the unit served as the Theater Engineer Brigade, Joint Task Force Sapper. The Brigade redeployed to Schofield Barracks in June 2014 and Brigadier General Holland relinquished command in July.

During 2015, Holland served as executive officer to the director of the Army Staff at the Pentagon and then Deputy Commanding General for Support, 10th Mountain Division (LI) at Fort Drum, N.Y., and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.

Most recently, Holland was assigned as the Commandant of Cadets at the United States Military Academy, West Point.

Holland’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (w/ OLC), Bronze Star (w/2 OLC), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (w/4 OLC), the Combat Action Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the German Parachutist Badge and the Silver Order of the de Fleury Medal.

She is married to James Holland Jr. They have two children, four grandchildren, and two Yorkshire Terriers.

The banquet will also be attended by Colonel Brent Cummings, Sergeant Major (SGM) Kerry Dyer, and the Color Guard from the University of North Georgia. Sergeant Major Dyer has served in every non-commissioned officer leadership position from scout Section Sergeant to Command Sergeant Major with duty locations that include Germany, Iraq, Kuwait, Haiti, Ft. Polk, La. and the Pentagon.

The North Georgia Veterans organization is open to all veterans, anyone who has served in any branch of service, in any capacity, for any period of time. All that is required is an honorable discharge. Additional information and registration for the dinner can be found on the website at www.ngvets.org.